State Rep. Joel Kitchens this week announced his intent to co-author a bill to be introduced in the next session that would extend hate crime protections to law enforcement officers.

Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, and Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard, have been working on this bill for several weeks but said it is made timelier by the recent deaths of five Dallas police officers.

“As the son of an FBI agent, I believe it is important to stand behind and support our law enforcement personnel,” Kitchens said. “We must do everything in our power to ensure the safety of those officers who risk their own safety every day protecting the public.”

The legislation is modeled after the “Blue Lives Matter” bill that was recently passed with bipartisan support in Louisiana. More than 100 sheriffs, police chiefs, and officers gathered in support of the bill on Monday at the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

“This bill is not intended to diminish the need for continued dialogue to assure that every citizen receives fair treatment under the law,” Kitchens said. “My hope is that it sends a strong message, however, that we will always stand behind those who serve and protect our communities.”